Treatment of personality disorders with antiseizure drugs

Abstract

Introduction. The use of antiepileptic drugs for the treatment of disruptive and impulsive behavior disorders is not new. Fenitoin was used 30 years ago in emotionally unstable and aggressive subjects. This was followed by extended use of carbamazepine in all the syndromes with these characteristics.

Objectives. Review in the scientific literature of the information available on the use of drugs that are mainly marketed as antiseizure drugs in the treatment of personality disorders.

Methods. Systematic review of international and national databases.

Results. Several anti-seizure drugs have been tested successfully in placebo-controlled trials in patients diagnosed of personality disorder, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, valproate and lamotrigine being those which have been studied most. However, there is still not enough information to determine the specific symptomatic dimensions on which these drugs act and their action mechanisms. More studies and probably greater homogenization of the diagnostic criteria used in them are needed to be able to obtain a more accurate idea of the benefit of these drugs in personality disorders.